David Warner hits out at ‘vile, disgusting’ wife jibe

Australia vice-captain David Warner says he will always stick up for his family after claiming a “vile and disgusting” remark about his wife by South Africa’s Quinton de Kock led to their ugly altercation.

Both players were punished Wednesday for the bust-up during the opening Test in Durban, with Warner fined 75 percent of his match fee and De Kock 25 percent.

They are free to play the second Test starting Friday in Port Elizabeth, although Warner was also given three demerit points, meaning he will be banned if he gets one more within the next year.

Warner admitted he let his emotions take over after confronting the Proteas wicketkeeper/batsman as the players walked up a narrow staircase to the dressing rooms during the tea interval on Sunday.

Footage was captured on CCTV and leaked, showing the Australian being restrained by his team-mates.

Warner said he was used to taking flak from fans and opposition players, but claimed De Kock’s remark crossed a line.

“The other day I was probably out of line. I’ve seen the footage and I regret the way it played out but for me — it is how I am and I responded emotionally and regretted the way I played out,” he told Australian media in South Africa.

“But I’ll always stick up for my family.

“I cop it left, right and centre, especially off the field from spectators. I am used to that and it doesn’t bother me.

“But in the proximity of my personal space and behind me, a comment that was vile and disgusting and about my wife and just in general about a lady was quite poor, I felt.”

He added: “When it comes to family or racism comments or anything like that, that’s just a no-go zone.”